Mail-pouch fastener.



No. 692,398. Patented Feb. 4, |902. W. H. WILLIAMS.

MAIL POUCH FASTENER.

(Application led May 14, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UMITnn STATES WILLIAM II. WILLIAMS,

Two-THIRDS To JOHN FORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

OF SLATEFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF O. O\VENS AND CHARLES STRUNK, OF SLATE- MAIL-POUCH VFASTEIN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of `lilietters Patent o. 692,398, dated February 4, 1902.

Appnttuon filed May I4, 1901.

T0 all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLI-AM H. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Slateford, county of Northampton, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mail-Pouch Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in mail-pouches, and has for its object to provide a mail-pouch which will be simple and cheap of construction and at'the same time be durable.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fastening device for this pouch which will also be simple in construction and give great security to the contents of the pouch after the same has been locked.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of constructionand combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forrning a part of this specification, in Which- Figure l represents a front elevation of my pouch, showing the same locked. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, except that the pouch is open ready for filling. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of a mail-bag holder, showing how myinvention would protect the lower end of the mail-bag while in this position. In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the front of the pouch, and B the back. Both the front and back sections are cut the same shape. The back section B has a tapering portion O at the top, which acts as a flap for closing the mouth of the pouch. The front section A has a similar flap D; but this flap is folded over back upon the portion A and is riveted to the same and is for the purpose of giving additional strength at this point.

E is a collar, made of leather or like mate- Serial No. 60,206. (No model.)

rial,which surrounds the pouch and is riveted to the back B, as indicated at e. The front of this collar is not riveted,but is free from the front portion A and the folded-over portion D.

F is an extension which is formed with the front of the collar E and extends downward a slight distance below the collar. A slot G is formed through this extension F, and this slot may be reinforced bya stiffened plate H.

I is astaple which is secured firmly through .the front section A and the folded-over portion D by rivets or otherwise. This staple is adapted to register with the slot G and normally protrude through the same.

The flap C, which is formed with the back section B, is adapted to fold over when it is desired to close the pouch and be inserted between the front of the collerE and the foldedover flap In). This iap O also has a slot J formed through the same near its end, and when this fiap is folded over and pulled down to the extreme limit this slot J is also adapted to register with the staple I. In lock; ing the bag the extension F of the collar E will be pulled outward to disengage the staple I from the slot G, and then the slot J in the flap C can be passed over the staple, and the slot G in the extension F will then resume its normal position,` with the staple protruding through said slot. It is obvious that when in this position the flap O cannot be withdrawn without the extension F first being pulled outward. It is then only necessary to pass the shackle of a lock through the staple to secure all the parts in place.

K is a ring, which may be secured to the back of the collar E for the purpose of securing the pouch to mail-bag catchers along the railway.

A strap L may be secured to the flap C for the purpose of withdrawing the Hap when it is desired to unfasten the pouch.

The advantages of my invention are that both the front and back sections can be died out the same shape, and the flap on the front section can be used as a reinforce and the flap on the back section can be used as a the mouth of the pouch,

means for closing upper portion ol' the 5o and by constructing the pouch in this manv ner it is made up of comparatively feW parts,

the mouth of the bag and protecting the contents of the same.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modiflcations could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is l. A mail-pouch consisting of two sections adapted to be secured together so as to form a bag, a iiap formed with the rear` extension, a reinforcement formed upon the front section by folding an extension from said front section back upon itself, a flexible collar adapted to surround the upper portion of the pouch and be secured to said pouch at t-he rear, an extension formed with said collar and extending downward therefrom in the front, the {ia'p adapted to be inserted between the front portion of the collar and the pouch, means for locking the flap both to the pouch and theextension extending downward from the collar so as to prevent the Withdrawal of said iiap, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. A mail-pouch consisting of a front and rear section, extensions formed upon the upper end of each of these sections, the extension upon the rear section to be used for the iiap for closing the mouth of the pouch, the extension upon the front section adapted to be folded upon said section and secured thereto, a flexible collar adapted to surround the upper end of the pouch and be secured to the same at the rear, an extension extending downward from the front of the collar, a slot formed through said extension, a staple secured rigidly to the front of the pouch and adapted to register with and normally protrude through the slot in the collar extension, the flap adapted to be inserted between the collar and the pouch for the purpose of closing the mouth of the pouch, a slot formed through the end of the flap and adapted to register with and pass over the staple and lie between the collar extension and the front of the pouch, and a lock, the shackle of which is adapted to pass through the staple outside of the collar extension, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLlAM H. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses: f

W. H. WERsr, THOMAS A. L. HAY. 

